Report 2004.TT.6871

Delft University of Technology
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Transport Technology

J.J. Kroes Facilities for the import of bulk materials
Literature survey, Report 2004.TT.6871, Transport Engineering and Logistics.

Bulk handling is done in many ports all over the world. In the past, a considerable increase of scales in bulk export terminals has been realised (sometimes up to 10.000 tons/hour per loading machine). Some import terminals for bulk materials have realised new facilities with larger handling capacities as well and due to the ongoing growth for some bulk commodities it is expected that new facilities are to be planned in many bulk importing ports in the coming 5-10 years.

The research in this assignment covers the following topics:

summary of the world wide most important ports/terminals for the import of bulk materials (ports/terminals handling more than 1 million tons per year) indicating size and dominant commodities;
summary of the applied systems and equipment for handling and storage and their average handling capacities (+ installed horsepower, weight);
description of the material (specific weight, angle of repose, angle of surcharge, lump size, abrasiveness, etc.);
trends in the design of import facilities.

This report consists of a study of facilities for the import of bulk materials.

The report includes a summary of the world wide most important ports/terminals, indicating size and dominant commodities. The summary is based on an older list by Ocean Shipping Consultants Limited "Bulk port and trade development: The Investment Outlook", published 1996. The information for this list is updated where possible and is organized in two tables. One table focuses on the achieved throughput of a port or terminal, the other on the capacity for handling and storage. The tables are located in appendix I of the report. The setup of the tables is shown here, for a further detailed explanation see chapter 2 of the report.

mta

Code

Country

Port

Terminal

Iron ore

Coal

Grain

Phosphate
Rock

Bauxite
and
Alumina

Misc

Notes

Total
throughput
dry bulk
materials

Sum of
troughput
of listed
dry bulk
materials

Year of info

Throughput
in year of
info

mta

Code

Country

Port

Terminal

Iron ore

Coal

Grain

Phosphate Rock

Bauxite and Alumina

Misc.

Sum of
capacity of
listed dry
bulk
materials

Year of info

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Installed
throughput
capacity

Storage
capacity

Discharge
equipment

This report also includes a summary of applied systems and equipment for handling and storage of dry bulk materials and some characteristic information about this equipment. The basic setup for this summary is a picture of the equipment, with information about capacities and other data next to it. This summary is located in appendix II of the report. An example is shown here:

A description of key material characteristics is given, pertaining to the specific weight, angle of repose, lump size, etc. The information is based on manuals from the conveying industry, and the common materials have been selected on basis of recurrence and the advice of ing. M.J. Willekes. A list of common dry bulk materials and their key characteristics is given in appendix III. This list is as shown here:

	Bulk Density (t/m³)		Approximate angle of repose (degrees)	Max conveying angle (degrees)	Other characteristics
Material	Low	High			Grain	Flowability	Abrasiveness	Other
Alumina	0.8	1.1	22	10/12	Fine	Free flowing, angle op repose less than 30'	Very abrasive	Can be suspended in air and flows freely as a liquid
Ammonium nitrate	0.7				Small granular	Normal flowing, angle op repose from 30' to 45'	Abrasive	Inflammable	Highly corrosive
Ammonium sulphate	0.7	1.3	10	10	Small granular	Free flowing, angle op repose less than 30'	Abrasive	Highly corrosive

Finally, an analysis of trends in the dry bulk material handling import facilities is made. This analysis is made from extensive literature research in journals and websites concerning dry bulk handling and related issues.

The main trends are:

The increase of control in pollution levels of dust and noise.
A continuing drive to automate all possible equipment involved in handling and storage.
The upgrade of material at the source, i.e. putting a refining centre next to the mine, or in the originating port of the raw material. This has consequences for the materials to be handled and the sizes of these flows.
A shift of previously single-commodity ports extending the use of their facilities and becoming multi-commodity ports.
An increased demand for flexible handling equipment, capable of handling a wide range of products.
The continuing demand for faster and more efficient service in ports, with faster turn-around of ships.
The increase in berth sizes, many ports are considering or implementing plans to expand/extend existing berths.

Reports on Transport Engineering and Logistics (in Dutch)

Modified: 2005.07.03; logistics@3mE.tudelft.nl , TU Delft / 3mE / TT / LT.

Delft University of Technology Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering Transport Technology

J.J. Kroes Facilities for the import of bulk materials Literature survey, Report 2004.TT.6871, Transport Engineering and Logistics.

Delft University of Technology
Faculty Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Transport Technology

J.J. Kroes Facilities for the import of bulk materials
Literature survey, Report 2004.TT.6871, Transport Engineering and Logistics.